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Majority of L.A. Taxis to Go 'Green' Over Next 5 Years
Other cities do it, but in Los Angeles taxi cab franchises are not required to have a fleet of fuel efficient vehicles. Now, thanks to a vote of the L.A. City Council today, a new contract with nine franchises means that by 2016, 80% of cabs on city streets will have to be green. In past months, the issue has been hotly debated with crowds packing committee meetings. Some argued that phasing in clean cars should be done in two years. Others said a five-year contract would allow for industry stability, allowing time to recoup the investment made in new alternative fuel vehicles purchases.